Tag: Gatlin

Athletics chief Sebastian Coe and the IAAF’s treatment of controversial 100 metres world champion Justin Gatlin is ‘inhumane’ and ‘unsportsmanlike’, the athlete’s agent told the BBC in a blistering attack.

British athletics legend Coe — a two-time 1500m Olympic champion — had told the BBC on Sunday two-time drugs cheat Gatlin’s victory in the sport’s most high profile event in London, which was watched by over eight million viewers in Britain, was not the ‘perfect script’.

Gatlin, 35, had been loudly booed throughout the 100m rounds and the verbal abuse was ratcheted up a few notches when he won the final, denying Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt a 12th world title in his last individual final. The 60,000 plus spectators jeered Gatlin whilst chanting bronze medal winner Bolt’s name as if he were the champion.

Coe — who had said prior to being elected president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) he felt ‘queasy’ about dopers returning and winning titles — remarked he wasn’t very excited about the prospect of placing the gold medal around Gatlin’s neck.

“I’m not eulogistic that someone who has served two bans has walked off with one of our glittering prizes,” said the 60-year-old.

However, Gatlin’s agent Renaldo Nehemiah, a former 110m hurdles world record holder, was scathing about Coe’s remarks.

“I take offence to, with all respect, Lord Coe,” he told the BBC.

“I don’t condone doping but Justin Gatlin is not the poster child for it.

“He’s done his time, he plays by the rules, the IAAF reinstated him. They said if you come back we should accept that.

“So to put a narrative out that it’s just Justin Gatlin and he’s the bad guy, it’s really not fair.

“It’s inhumane. It’s unsportsmanlike.”

– ‘The legend is OK with it’ –

Nehemiah, who won the 1984 Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers, said Coe and the IAAF should be more gracious and accept their rules allowed athletes like Gatlin to get a chance at redeeming themselves.

“Lord Coe’s a part of the IAAF who set the rules, who set out the punishments, and when you serve the punishment you are supposed to be reinstated, which these athletes who have offended and abused some of these rules have, and if you don’t want them in you should change the rules,” said Nehemiah.

“You don’t allow them in and then still condemn them,” said the 58-year-old.

Coe has always been a hardliner on doping, believing second time offenders like Gatlin should have life bans — however that view has fallen foul of the legal system when athletes have gone to court to challenge such punishments.

Gatlin — who reacted to the crowd’s booing of his victory by placing a finger to his mouth — served a four-year ban from 2006-10, reduced from eight years and also served a prior ban whilst a student, although that was also reduced as it was ascertained that he had taken medication for his Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

Nehemiah, who missed out on his chance of an Olympics due to the US boycott of the 1980 Games in Moscow over the invasion of Afghanistan, said if Bolt could accept graciously that Gatlin was justified in being there, then it should be good enough for anybody.

“If it’s good for Bolt it should be good enough for everyone else,” said Nehemiah, who observed that when Gatlin competed and won bronze at the 2012 Olympics in London he was not booed.

Silver medallist US athlete Christian Coleman (L), gold medallist US athlete Justin Gatlin (C) and bronze medallist Jamaica's Usain Bolt (R) pose on the podium during the victory ceremony for the men's 100m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium. Photo: AFP

Justin Gatlin may have sensationally regained the world 100m title denying superstar Usain Bolt a golden farewell but like the crowd in the London Stadium the British media slammed the fact the former drugs cheat had gatecrashed the party, AFP reports.

The 35-year-old American – the Olympic 100m champion in 2004 and world champion in 2005 (also winning the 200m world crown to achieve the double) – showed great character to shut out the jeering to storm home and beat young compatriot Christian Coleman and Bolt, who for once was unable to find the gas to make up for a woeful start.

Some saw it as the ultimate redemption for Gatlin to have prevailed after serving a four year ban – reduced from eight – from 2006-2010, having also been barred during his college days though his medication was for his Attention Deficit Disorder.

Never one to mince their words the newspaper described how Bolt received the adulation of the crowd whilst Gatlin – who had brought a finger to his mouth after being named the winner to hush the crowd – slunk off.

“Gatlin disappeared from view after a brief run down the home straight, but when he returned for interviews he was greeted with chants of “cheat, cheat cheat” while he was live on air.”

The Mail on Sunday took a similarly dim view of Gatlin ruining the 30-year-old Jamaican’s bid for a 12th world gold.

“A terrible silence met the end of the men’s 100m final here,” wrote their correspondent.

“Not only was Usain Bolt, the great hero of the sport, denied victory in his final individual race, but it was won by two-time drugs cheat Justin Gatlin. Athletics’ worst nightmare had just unfolded in front of a watching world.”

The broadsheet press was largely in agreement although The Guardian believed that chickens had come home to roost for the sport itself.

Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Justin Gatlin said it was sad that fans booed his victory in the world 100m final on Saturday, saying he had “done my time’’ for his doping offences — and Usain Bolt, the man he beat into third place, agreed with him.

Gatlin took the title in 9.92 but instead of acclaiming the remarkable success of a 35-year-old triumphing 13 years after he won the Olympic title, vast swathes of the crowd booed him in response to his two bans for drugs offences earlier in his career.

“It’s kinda sad that my boos were louder than some of the others’ cheers,’’ Gatlin told reporters.

“I wanted to keep it classy and at the end of the race bend the knee to Usain. Pay homage to him. This night is still a magical night for track and field and for Usain Bolt; he’s done so much in his career.’’

“I wasn’t booed in 2010, 2011 or 2012, or 13, 14 or 15 – and now I am. I’m just sitting up here, I’m a runner, I’m back in the sport, I’ve done my time, I’ve done community service. I’ve talked to kids, I inspire kids – that’s all I can do,’’ the American added.

“Society does that with people who make mistakes and I hope track and field can understand that too.’’

Bolt, who finished third behind American Christian Coleman, agreed.

“Over the years I’ve always said he’s done his time,’’ said the Jamaican, who was the first to hug Gatlin post-race.

“If he’s here, it’s okay. I’ve always respected him as a competitor. He deserves to be here, he’s worked hard.

“I treat him like any other athlete — as a competitor.’’

Gatlin was asked if he thought his victory had been a disaster for the sport.

“I wasn’t focused on the boos, I wasn’t thinking about whether my win tonight was a disaster for the sport,’’ he said.

“I really did it for my fans, my support staff, my countrymen, the people who really believe in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself,’’ he added.

“For the first time I was thinking about them not myself, and it took the pressure off.’’

He was similarly dismissive when asked if he enjoyed being the bad boy.

“I know you’ve got to have a black hat and a white hat but guys, come on,’’ he said.

“What do I do that makes me a bad boy? Do I talk bad about anybody, do I give bad gestures, don’t I shake every athlete’s hand, don’t I congratulate them, wish everybody good luck? That don’t sound like a bad boy to me.

“Usain is a great athlete and a great man and I’m just happy to be here lining up shoulder to shoulder with him. He leaves a huge void in the sport.’’ (Reuters/NAN)

US athlete Justin Gatlin kneels in front of Jamaica's Usain Bolt after Gatlin won the final of the men's 100m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ANTONIN THUILLIER

Justin Gatlin may have sensationally regained the world 100 metres title denying superstar Usain Bolt a golden farewell but like the crowd in the London Stadium, the British press slammed the fact the former drugs cheat had gatecrashed the party.

The 35-year-old American — the Olympic 100m champion in 2004 and world champion in 2005 (also winning the 200m world crown to achieve the double) — showed great character to shut out the jeering to storm home and beat young compatriot Christian Coleman and Bolt, who for once was unable to find the gas to make up for a woeful start.

Some saw it as the ultimate redemption for Gatlin to have prevailed after serving a four-year ban — reduced from eight — from 2006-2010 having also been barred during his college days though his medication was for his Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

Never one to mince their words the newspaper described how Bolt received the adulation of the crowd whilst Gatlin — who had brought a finger to his mouth after being named the winner to hush the crowd — slunk off.

“Gatlin disappeared from view after a brief run down the home straight, but when he returned for interviews he was greeted with chants of “cheat, cheat cheat” while he was live on air.”

The Mail on Sunday took a similarly dim view of Gatlin ruining the 30-year-old Jamaican’s bid for a 12th world gold.

“A terrible silence met the end of the men’s 100m final here,” wrote their correspondent.

“Not only was Usain Bolt, the great hero of the sport, denied victory in his final individual race, but it was won by two-time drugs cheat Justin Gatlin. Athletics’ worst nightmare had just unfolded in front of a watching world.”

The broadsheet press was largely in agreement although The Guardian believed that chickens had come home to roost for the sport itself.

– ‘Embarrassment to athletics’ –
Their criticism comes despite the sport’s governing body the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) taking the hardest line of all sports authorities with the Russian doping scandal and have still kept their ban in place of allowing them to compete as a country.

“The 35-year-old American, who was banned twice early in his career for doping offences, is necessarily not the champion the sport wants,” commented the newspaper.

“But given its problems, it is one that many will feel it deserves.”

As for Gatlin The Guardian drew a comparison with American cartoon super hero Batman — Gatlin as a child used to dress up as him and jump on his parents bed when they were still asleep.

Latterly had said he felt more of the negative side of the character in that he had returned from his enforced break very angry and it was burning him up.

“A couple of years ago, Gatlin described himself as ‘the Batman of the track -– a vigilante’,” the paper commented.

“But few in the London Stadium were celebrating the rising again of this self-styled Dark Knight.”

The Daily Telegraph took a similar tack labelling the victor as a ‘gatecrasher’ and declaring ‘you may never see a greater anti-climax’.

It also berated the sport for allowing him to return.

“There was no animosity down there on the track, but a Gatlin win, at 35, was an embarrassment to athletics, where there was a rash of drugs scandals after the 2012 London Olympics in this very stadium,” opined their chief sports writer.

“Gatlin is by no means the only top athlete who has been given a second or third chance after pharmaceutical cheating, but his transgressions stand out in sprinting, which has led the way in conning the public.”

American veteran Justin Gatlin was booed after he stunned Usain Bolt to win the 100m world title in London on Saturday.

Gatlin, who served a doping ban between 2006-10 and won silvers behind Bolt at the last two world championships, clocked 9.92 seconds, with teammate Christian Coleman winning silver in 9.94sec.

Bolt suffered a dreadful start and could only claim bronze in 9.95sec.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t end it on a winning note, but I want to thank you for your support,” said Bolt, who embraced Gatlin after they streaked through the line with no clear victor immediately apparent.

“It’s been a wonderful experience as always.”

Gatlin was afforded the same rough reception as he had in the heats and semi-finals, loud boos and jeering ringing around the same stadium where in 2012 his rivalry with Bolt was presented as ‘good against evil’, given the American’s doping-tainted past.

But Gatlin has form as the last man to beat Bolt over 100m — by a hundredth of a second in Rome in 2013 — and at the age of 35, can still produce the goods, something he has in the past ironically credited with his four years of forced exile from the track.

Evergreen American sprinter Justin Gatlin struck gold when he anchored his team to victory at the IAAF World Relays in Nassau on Saturday, while double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson shone for Jamaica.

The battle between Gatlin, the 35-year-old 2004 Olympic 100m champion who has served two doping bans, and Usain Bolt’s self-professed successor Andre de Grasse did not play out, the Canadian deprived of the chance to run his leg after a botched handover by his teammates.

De Grasse, a three-time medallist at the Rio Olympics, had cocked his head over towards Gatlin three times before turning on the afterburners to edge the American in the heats.

But there was to be no showboating come the final at a breezy, half-full Thomas A. Robinson stadium as Aaron Brown fluffed his handover to Brendon Rodney.

The US were not out of danger, however, with Britain looking to be ahead as Gatlin took the baton from Ronnie Baker after slick passovers between Leshon Collins and Mike Rodgers.

But Englishman Danny Talbot failed to hit his mark and Gatlin had a free run in for 38.43sec, eyes glued on the big screen in near bewilderment as Barbados took silver at a distant 39.12 and China bronze (39.22).

“I’m proud of my guys, the team,” said Gatlin, dubbing himself the “official track vampire” for his longevity.

“They were hungry, not nervous or jittery.”

Gatlin added that the result was perfect ahead of the August world championships in London.

“We wanted to prepare ourselves, saying let’s have smooth handoffs, be as fast as we can for April,” he said.

“We want to come across the line first in August as we did tonight and we want to be as successful as possible.

“I didn’t realise Great Britain and Canada didn’t get the stick off so I was running with 20 metres to the line thinking ‘hey, where’s everyone at?!’.”

– Thompson the anchor –

Thompson, who won double gold in Rio last year, was afforded a rousing welcome as she safely led her Jamaican teammates to victory in the women’s 4x200m.

The 24-year-old anchored her team also including Jura Levy, Shericka Jackson and Sashalee Forbes home in a championship record of 1min 29.04sec, Germany (1:30.68) snatching silver from the United States by 0.21.

“There was no pressure,” said Thompson. “We came on the track and do what we do.”

The US defended their women’s 4x800m relay title in first final of the night, Laura Roesler and Charlene Lipsey pulling away in the final two legs after teammates Chanelle Price and Chrishuna Williams were involved in an early nip-and-tuck battle with Australia.

“I’ve had the pleasure of making all three teams that have won here in the Bahamas,” said Price, whose opening leg of 2:01.73 was the quickest run on the night.

“I knew we had a target on our backs and that all the other teams wanted to take the crown from us. We also wanted to set the tone for the USA.”

Belarus eventually edged the Australian quartet into third thanks to a strong anchor leg by Maryna Arzamasova, the 2015 world champion in Beijing.

– Heartache for Shaunae –

Despite Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo running a scorching first leg, the Bahamas failed to progress to the final of the women’s 4x400m. France, with European indoor champion Floria Guei running anchor, also failed to qualify.

There was also no such luck for the Jamaican men’s 4x100m quartet, missing Bolt and late withdrawal Asafa Powell, as the precision needed for baton passovers was highlighted in their first-round race.

Third leg runner Jevaughan Minzie bolted before Kemar Bailey-Cole could get the baton anywhere near to him, leaving anchor leg Yohan Blake, the 2011 world 100m champion and double 2012 Olympic silver medallist behind Bolt, with his head in his hands.

That leaves the Jamaicans needing to post a top-16 qualifying time for the London worlds by July 23.

Sunday’s action sees the men compete in the 4x200m, 4x400m and 4x800m and the women in the 4x100m and 4x400m, while there will also be a mixed-sex 4x400m relay, handing Miller-Uibo a second chance to shine in front of her raucous home support.

Usain Bolt vowed to go for a world record in Thursday’s Rio Olympics 200m final after Jamaican compatriot Elaine Thompson completed a stunning women’s sprint double.

Brazil’s football team set up a revenge showdown against Germany — who crushed the hosts 7-1 in the World Cup two years ago — only to lose another strategic final to the Germans on Copacabana beach.

Bolt, boosted by his win in Sunday’s 100m final, looked unstoppable as he reached the 200m final with a season’s best of 19.78sec.

He had time to ease up 40 metres from the line and still finish ahead of Canada’s Andre De Grasse. Bolt believes his world record of 19.19sec is in jeopardy.

“I definitely think I can try for the world record, I definitely feel that,” he said.

There was a shock as Bolt’s US rival Justin Gatlin — the fastest man over the distance this year — failed to make the final.

Gatlin, who has been booed in Rio over two doping failures and came second in the 100m, blamed an ankle injury suffered in November.

Thompson, who sprinted to gold in the women’s 100m on Saturday, stunned Dutch world champion Dafne Schippers to win the 200m in 21.78sec.

Schippers, who stumbled as she crossed the line, took silver in 21.88. Tori Bowie of the United States won bronze.

Thompson, 24, dedicated her victory to the trailblazing Jamaican stars who have won Olympic gold in past years.

“It is very special for me to win,” she said. “I spent my childhood growing up watching Veronica Campbell-Brown and then Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce.”

Thompson is the first woman to complete the double since late American world record holder Florence Griffith Joyner’s performance at the 1988 Seoul Games.

In the final event, 2013 world champion Brianna Rollins led a majestic American sweep of the top three in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Rollins produced a flawless display to clock 12.48sec ahead of compatriot Nia Ali in 12.59sec and Kristi Castlin in 12.61sec.

“It’s like a sisterhood,” said Rollins. “I’ve known these girls for years. I’m so grateful and blessed that we were able to accomplish this together.”

Tianna Bartoletta of the United States upset defending champion and team-mate Brittney Reese to take the long jump gold.

Bartoletta, a 2005 world champion who gave up the sport as she struggled with injuries, secured victory with her penultimate leap of 7.17m to knock Reese out of the gold medal standings. Reese could only manage 7.15 on her final jump.

But it was a disappointing long jump for Darya Klishina.

The only Russian athlete allowed to compete in the track and field competition following her country’s doping scandal bowed out midway through the final.

“Ten or 15 years ago I couldn’t imagine that my first Olympic Games would be like this,” said a disappointed Klishina who won a world sports tribunal appeal against a late IAAF doping ban on her competing in Rio.

In the day’s other final, Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya won gold in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.

– Neymar back –

Brazil, who are not keeping up with medal expectations, had a day of hope and crushing disappointment.

Neymar scored twice — including the fastest goal at an Olympics in 15 seconds — as Brazil beat Honduras in the Games football semi-final.

They now face Germany, triumphant 2-0 over Nigeria, in Saturday’s final. This will be a repeat of their Maracana stadium clash in the World Cup final two years ago which the Germans won 7-1.

Barcelona star Neymar stole the ball from Honduras defender Johnny Palacios on the edge of the box and goalkeeper Luis Lopez’s attempt to save ricocheted off Neymar’s midriff and into an empty goal.

For a moment, Neymar’s bravery looked foolhardy. He was stretchered off after being winded in the challenge but came back and scored a late penalty to complete the rout.

Germany inflicted another famous victory over Brazil in the women’s beach volleyball final, however, under a full moon on Copacabana beach.

Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst scored an emphatic 21-18, 21-14 win over Brazil’s world champions Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas in front of a raucous crowd.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt celebrates after winning the Men's 100m final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Photo: Jeff PACHOUD / AFP

Usain Bolt stormed past his rivals to claim a historic third straight Olympic 100 metres title and declared himself confident of becoming an “immortal” by the end of the Rio Games.

Hot on the heels of a sensational 400m world record by South African Wayde van Niekerk, the Jamaican surged past American rival Justin Gatlin to take the most prized Olympic gold in 9.81sec.

With one title in the bag, Bolt celebrated and turned his attention to completing the 100m, 200m and 4x100m gold medal sweep at three consecutive Olympics.

“Somebody said I can become immortal. Two more medals to go and I can sign off. Immortal,” said Bolt who has said this will be his last Olympics.

Bolt said he had been “shocked” at booing directed at Gatlin, who has twiced been banned for doping, but insisted he had focused on the victory that left him out alone in the 120-year history of Olympic sprinting.

– Track massacre –

Although way short of his 9.58sec world record, Bolt was happy with the performance.

He started slowly but reeled in the fast-starting Gatlin within 70 metres and eased up, thumping his chest as he crossed the line. Canada’s Andre de Grasse took bronze.

“It was brilliant. I didn’t go so fast but I’m so happy I won,” he said.

Usain Bolt raced for the first at the 2016 Olympics and won his opening round 100m heat in 10.07 seconds. Bolt is attempting to become the first man to win three consecutive Olympic 100m gold medals.

“It wasn’t the best start, it felt kind of sluggish,” said Bolt, who was running just after noon on Saturday in Rio, to the Associated Press. “I’m not used to running this early in the morning in any championships.”

Justin Gatlin clocked 10.01 seconds, the fastest time of the first round, to win his heat by .19 seconds.

“It felt good—in control,” Gatlin said to NBC’s Lewis Johnson. “Coach told me to go out there, control the race from the beginning, stay tall to the end and just get ready for the next day.”

Trayvon Bromell finished second in his heat in 10.13 seconds. It was the first Olympic race for the 21-year-old U.S. sprinter.

“Now I got the jitters out of the way, I’m ready to keep moving forward,” Bromell said to Lewis Johnson.

Fellow American Marvin Bracy was third in his heat. The two fastest runners in each heat automatically advanced to the semifinals, but Bracy advanced because he was one of the next eight fastest runners.

Canada’s Andre De Grasse, the 2015 Olympic 100m bronze medalist, and Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, the 2012 Olympic 100m silver medalist, were among the other sprinters who won 100m heats.

Former Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best raced in the same heat as Usain Bolt. He became the first athlete to compete in track and field at an Olympics after playing in the NFL.

The battle to be crowned world’s fastest man takes centre stage at the Rio Olympics on Sunday with Usain Bolt facing another showdown with Justin Gatlin where the image of athletics on the line.

Twelve months ago, when Bolt vanquished Gatlin in the World Championship 100m final, many suggested the Jamaican sprint king had “saved” his sport from a bruising reputational body blow.

The prospect of 2004 Olympic champion Gatlin — twice found guilty of doping during his career — was too much to stomach for many in athletics.

Yet the notion that Bolt’s victory in Beijing had set track and field on a road to redemption turned out to be woefully premature.

In the 12 months since, athletics has been left reeling by a corruption scandal involving top-level administrators and revelations over Russian doping that plunged the sport into the worst crisis in its history.

It means that Sunday’s 100m final at Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Stadium, set for 10.25pm local time (0125 GMT Monday) will inevitably once more be framed as a battle of “good versus evil” — Bolt vs Gatlin.

In a global audience of hundreds of millions, many fans, including International Association of Athletics Federations chief Sebastian Coe, may be tempted to watch through their fingers.

Gatlin, 34, wearily rejects a narrative he sees as unfair, adamant that his story is far more nuanced than the bald, oft-applied label — “two-time dope cheat” — implies.

His first doping suspension in 2001 arose from the use of a drug to treat attention deficit disorder that he had been prescribed since childhood.

The US panel hearing that case found he “was certainly not a doper.”

A second positive in 2006 — for excessive levels of testosterone — was more problematical.

Gatlin blamed the results on sabotage by a therapist but was banned for eight years, later reduced to four on appeal.

– Hurt by ‘villain’ tag –

“It’s hurtful, it’s hurtful to be looked at as a villain because that’s not how I portray myself, that’s not how my son portrays me or my family,” said Gatlin, who booked his ticket to Rio with the fastest 100m time in the world this year last month, 9.80sec.

Gatlin may find it hard to escape the opprobium however if he defeats Bolt on Sunday to deny a fairytale swansong for the sport’s greatest showman.

Bolt is aiming to sign off a majestic Olympic career by successfully defending his triple crown of 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles for a third straight Olympics.

The 29-year-old has endured a frustrating season, repeatedly bothered by a hamstring problem that has required extensive treatment and forced him to cut short his appearance at Jamaica’s trials in Kingston in July.

However he appeared in relaxed mood on Monday at his first press conference since arriving in Brazil, shimmying with scantily-clad samba dancers and wise-cracking with journalists.

Even when asked about his sport’s year of shame, which culminated with Russia barred from the Olympics, Bolt was upbeat.

“For me I think we’re going in the right direction, I must say,” Bolt said. “We’re weeding out the bad ones,” he added, stating he was unconcerned by the prospect of lining up against opponents who are not clean.

“In life nothing is guaranteed. But for me going out there, I never worry about it,” said Bolt, who has a knack of raising his game when titles are at stake.

“As a young kid you grow up looking forward to the big Games,” he said. “Championships are what matters. This is what I do, I enjoy doing it.”

The likeliest challenge to Bolt and Gatlin could come from the next generation of sprinters led by Trayvon Bromell of the United States and France’s Jimmy Vicaut.

Bromell, 21, has the world’s second fastest 100m time this year (9.84) whie Vicaut, 24, has the third fastest (9.86).